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[WarGamer]

This message was self-deleted by its author (WarGamer) on Thu Feb 24, 2022, 02:50 AM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[Beakybird]

1. Don't the Oligarchs have a lot of real estate in the world's biggest Western cities,

but with hidden ownership? We need to seize those properties!

[WarGamer]

2. Taking a $10M condo from a guy worth 5 Billion...

Isn't going to do much.

[mitch96]

5. "Isn't going to do much.".. and I hope it just PISSES them off... nt

[WarGamer]

6. Everyone with a Russian passport?

Or just those with government links?

[mitch96]

21. what ever it takes just shy of war to get them out of Ukraine...nt

[Samrob]

63. It will mean something. Why do they have that condo in the west? Because they love being here.

When they can't escape to the freedoms and pleasures of the west, it will eventually get to them. Their wealth and power is their access to creature comforts that most of us cannot afford. Deny them the access to dock their yachts, live in their condos and on their plush estates it will take a toll. But all nations have to comply and I fear they won't.

Also, if only the "escorts" would stop servicing them that would take a toll too.

[tinrobot]

46. Their overseas properties worth a lot more than $10M

At least an order of magnitude larger.

One example - Putin hastily moved his $100m yacht, which was in Germany until a few weeks ago.
https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-yacht-graceful-left-germany-amid-sanction-threats-report-2022-2

Add in overseas bank accounts, business interests, and the inability to travel freely and it starts to add up.

[former9thward]

23. No they won't

Russia would seize assets of Western business in Russia.

[Mr.Bill]

57. I don't think we are going to be doing business

in Russia for awhile.

[former9thward]

58. There are 3000 American companies operating in Russia.

You really think Biden is going to take some action which would cause forfeiture of their assets?

http://www.aalep.eu/american-companies-operating-russia

[Mr.Bill]

59. I have no idea what's going to happen, or how it's going to happen.

I just think it will not be practical to do business with or in Russia very soon. Were any American companies doing business in Germany or Japan in, say, 1943? I'm afraid that's where we're headed.

[WarGamer]

4. The NYT disagrees with you.

Did you miss the part about the low national debt and the 4th highest reserve bank balance in the world?

The vast majority of wealth in Russia is oil/gas which is flowing freely.


And a reminder, if your profit is X when oil is $40/bb... when oil is $80/bb your profit is NOT just 2X...

It's probably 8-10X

[WarGamer]

9. Are they broke? Prove it.

Maybe 5500 per year pays the bills there?

[WarGamer]

15. Have a good night! nt

[uponit7771]

14. Russians are broke the country has half a year in GDP in cash alone without China's help. On the

... other hand the Russians had cash reserves in the 70s too and they busted it all on a useless ass war in Afganistan

[WarGamer]

16. I see you didn't read the article.

[uponit7771]

17. paywall

[former9thward]

24. It is not broke.

Combined they have more oil and minerals than any other country.

[former9thward]

34. I should have put "major" in front of "country".

Now, what are your sources that Russia is broke?

[WarGamer]

38. probably Twitter.

[W_HAMILTON]

30. The New York Times seems to find itself on the wrong side of history a lot nowadays.

Too bad they didn't start taking such a contrarian approach to everything back before the buildup to the Iraq War...

[edhopper]

40. No

Two writers who have an opinion on the current situation disagree. Not THE NEW YORK TIMES.

I question your certainty on this.

[Amishman]

41. They aren't remotely going broke

600 billion in foreign reserves; enough to pay off their total sovereign debt (280 billion) twice over.

They're in better financial shape than almost every other country. Which is why Putin thinks he can get away with this, which is why we need to go way beyond what has been proposed so far. Need to make it so they really do go broke.

[texasfiddler]

10. The combined impact of European and US sanctions will have more than a "little effect".

Impending SWIFT transaction sanctions and the halting of Nordstream II will all have an impact. The NY Times is not all knowing. They can spew GOP propaganda like Fox. I think the sanctions delivered today and those yet to be delivered are the best that can be done. We are supplying Javelin and Stinger missiles. Do you want American soldiers in Ukraine? To me, unless you provide a more effective solution, posting this article is just pushing a future GOP talking point. What is your point? I can provide articles from the Washington Post and CNN that claim the sanctions will be very effective.

[dsp3000]

11. I would not mind some kind of limited US boots on the ground.

Don't know if that will get me in trouble here but that could stop further bloodshed if Russia sees that the US/NATO is serious about this. At least air support, F35 or Drones, something.

[WarGamer]

12. Bad idea.

The Russians have some of the most advanced anti-aircraft defenses in the world.

How many US lives is it worth?

[lagomorph777]

31. Wow, you sure do a good job promoting propaganda for Putin.

You went straight from the US providing materiel, to assuming US boots on the ground. Then you bragged not only about how rich Russia is ( ) to how great their weapons are. We are not blind.

Niiiiice.

[demtenjeep]

50. yes we might have an agitator among our midst

eventually they out themselves over the stupidest of things



such as saying President JOE BIDEN isn't up to the task....


you know...like faux

[Dirty Heads]

52. So, when he's rolling into Poland, after taking over the Baltic, are you still going to shrug?

I'm sure if you were around back in the 1940s, you'd be saying the same thing about American lives stopping Hitler's advances.

[WarGamer]

54. NATO countries we have a MILITARY obligation...

we will DEFEND THEM with force.

[Phoenix61]

18. Funny those same two published and article a month

ago saying the exact opposite.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/29/us/politics/russia-sanctions-economy.html?smid=url-share
Not to mention it isn’t just the US that is leveling sanctions against Russia.

[WarGamer]

19. And THAT would be a reminder why the NYT isn't my go-to news source.

[dpibel]

35. So you make OPs based on an unreliable source?

That seems odd.

What should we do? Assume that the NYT article you quote for your OP is a good one, cuz, after all, you're relying on it?

But not so much the other ones?

I can't remember your source for guaranteeing that Putin would never, ever invade Ukraine. Was that NYT also? Or a different reliable source?

[Kingofalldems]

48. Boom! I remember that post.

[dpibel]

39. LOL

I did read the post you deleted.

[lagomorph777]

22. Worth noting that Putin seems to be leaving his oil and gas fields under-defended.

He's sent most of the military to Ukraine.

Just sayin'.

[radius777]

25. Russia and China will never defeat the West.

China is basicaly just a factory for the West, and Russia is just an oil/gas oligarchy. Neither country has the type of intellectual, creative and productive strength and resiliency of Western democracy and capitalism. The combined gdp of NATO countries ($42 trillion) is more than double that of China and Russia combined. NATO's military is the most advanced and huge, and could be much larger if need be, due to the economic and technological superiority of the West relative to the anti-West.

Russia in particular has a dysfunctional kleptocratic top-heavy economy with a weak gdp ($2 trillion) and high inflation. The tougher sanctions can cripple their economy and send it into a tailspin. China may offer some help to them but recent comments coming out of Beijing condemned the invasion of Ukraine. China, again as the factory of the world, does not want any global instability - especially fears the wrath of the West that it relies on as consumers, and I highly doubt would ever go 'all in' on latching itself to crappy Russia.

[BannonsLiver]

26. Updating my special list

Pro Putin types and/or defeatists are welcome.

(I don’t buy the alleged analyst credentials either.)

[lagomorph777]

33. Likewise. I don't have time for this crap.

[dalton99a]

42. Analysts working for the Internet Research Agency

(Агентство интернет-исследований )

[demtenjeep]

27. Your Biden bashing has become obvious

[gldstwmn]

61. Agree.

[FSogol]

45. Oh FUD!

[Kingofalldems]

47. Should we just not respond and let Putin have his way?

[WarGamer]

49. Everything that CAN be done IS being done.

I have no suggestions or complaints about our actions.

Some experts just don't believe it'll be very effective.

But... having said that... load up both barrels and hit them with every sanction at our disposal.

There's ZERO support in the US or EU to actually put troops in front of Putin inside Ukraine.

In fact, the EU is being only half serious about sanctions. The new pipeline is temporarily on hold BUT what most people don't understand... Russia and Germany and other countries have AGREED to supply contracted amounts of oil and gas during the crisis.

There *IS NO EU blockade or boycott at this time.

[demtenjeep]

51. careful boy

kind of sounding like little tukems a bit

[WarGamer]

53. Did I say something that's not factual?

If I did... I'll delete really quick because I don't like posting mistruths.

[demtenjeep]

56. you figure it out

just remember this is the DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND

not the conservative @%#$W$% Q$$$%

[dpibel]

62. Thank you for the laugh

in rather grim circumstances!

[Dirty Heads]

55. Yes. That's exactly what some want.

Just shrug as Putin advances through Ukraine and then onto the Baltic states and eventually into Poland.

Not our problem I guess.

It's an unfortunate mentality that inflicts a lot in the United States. Being a country completely isolated (beyond just Mexico and Canada), we have the luxury to just shrug our shoulders at these events. Only two times have we ever faced 1/10th of the carnage Europe has faced over the last 100 years - Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Neither impacted a great deal of the country, though (at least in terms of actual assault).

European countries never have the luxury of just shrugging at the advances of power-hungry goons like Putin. They're too close to the action to be indifferent.

The United States? We're not.

It took Pearl Harbor to draw enough support from Americans to fight World War II. Most Americans would soon let the world burn just as long as it doesn't impact their sports and fast food.

[Mr.Bill]

60. Well, unlike the start of WWII,

we must consider thousands of nuclear weapons pointed at us. This is a much different ball game, and Putin and Biden know it.

[Hekate]

65. Enjoying yourself yet?